Last September, the bj-league gave a Nagasaki-based expansion franchise the green light to begin play for the 2015-16 season.

That plan has changed.

The bj-league on Friday announced its board of directors has OK'd Nagasaki Sports Town Management Co. Ltd.'s request for its team to be released from its contract to enter the league for the upcoming season.

That request was submitted on March 9, according to a news release issued by the bj-league.

Astrais Nagasaki had been selected as the team's nickname, and the club was slated to be one of two expansion teams, joining the Kanazawa Samurai Orchestra, for the bj-league's 11th season.

The bj-league currently has 22 teams (12 Eastern Conference squads and 10 Western Conference clubs), and the plan was for 24 for the possible final season of its current setup. So that number has now been reduced to 23.

The Japan 2024 Task Force is currently working to revamp Japan pro basketball, as required by FIBA, the sport's global governing body, which suspended the Japan Basketball Association in November. Proposed changes revealed to the press and basketball officials include a new two-tier top league structure (with promotion and relegation) and a development league, all slated to launch for the 2016-17 season.

It's unclear at press time if the Nagasaki management company's future plans would be to delay its inaugural season and submit a new application to join the just-cited new pro league at a later date, perhaps waiting to see how the massive reforms shake out.

Here's a brief rundown on others teams' comings and goings during the league's 10-year history:

*The Tokyo Apache, one of the circuit's original six clubs, folded after the 2010-11 campaign.

*The Miyazaki Shining Suns pulled out of the bj-league after three seasons, playing their final game in April 2013.

*After just two seasons, the Chiba Jets defected to the rival NBL (the JBL's successor) in 2013.

*The Aomori Wat's delayed their entry into the league by one season, playing their first game in October 2013.